MALAYSIAN SOCIETY OF SOIL SCIENCE(MSSS)

NEWSLETTER Issue 1, 2021

Management Committee

2020/2021 President:

Dr. Rosazlin Abdullah (UM)

Immediate Past President:

Prof. Dr. Che Fauziah Ishak (UPM)

Vice President (Pen. Malaysia):

Dr. Jeyanny Vijayanathan (FRIM) Vice President (Sarawak):

Dr. Wan Asrina Wan Yahaya (UPM)

Vice President (Sabah):

Mr. Abdullah Abdul Rahman (SDPB)

Hon. Secretary:

Mr. Muhammad Zamir Abd Rasid (MARDI)

Hon. Asst. Secretary:

Dr. Norliyana Zin Zawawi (MPOB)

Hon. Treasurer:

Dr. Ali Tan Kee Zuan (UPM)

Hon. Asst. Treasurer:

Dr. Adibah Mohd Amin (UPM)

Members:

Dr. Vijiandran Juva Rajah (UPB)

Mr. Khairun Naim Mulana (Behn Meyer)

Dr. Mohd Firdaus Sulaiman (UPM)

Mr. Mohamad Fakhri Ishak (FRIM)

Co-opted Members:

Dr. Mohd Rizal Ariffin (UPM)

Hon. Auditors:

Dr. Mohd Shafar Jefri Mokhatar (UPM)

Dr. Syaharudin Zaibon (UPM)

MJSS Chief Editor: Dr. Samsuri A. Wahid (UPM)

Editorial Board Dr. Wan Asrina Wan Yahaya Dr. Rosazlin Abdullah Advisor: Dr. Jeyanny Vijayanathan Last April, the Malaysian Society of Soil Science (MSSS) cele-

brated the Golden Jubilee (50 years) anniversary. The organizer commu-

nity organized the anniversary month celebration in March to highlight

the valuable contribution of MSSS members and raise public awareness

on the importance of soil. All the programs were held through a Zoom

platform and live-streamed on MSSS Facebook due to the pandemic

Covid-19. The soft launching of the anniversary month celebration was

held on 2 March 2021. The program started with the welcoming re-

marks by the MSSS President, Dr. Rosazlin Abdullah. The program

continued with the opening remarks by the Director General, Depart-

ment of Agriculture Malaysia, YBhg. Datuk Haji Mohd Nasir bin

Warris. In his speech, YBhg. Datuk Haji Mohd Nasir bin Warris had

acknowledged the contribution of MSSS members and cooperation be-

tween the Department of Agriculture and MSSS from the past to in-

crease public awareness on the importance of soil in Malaysia. YBhg.

Datuk Haji Mohd Nasir bin Warris also officiated the celebration of the

anniversary month. The program continued with the talk by the guest

speaker, Dr. Mohd Khanif Yusop, the MSSS Fellow and Past Presi-

dent, with the topic “Enhancing Soil Carrying Capacity for Food Secu-

rity and Environmental Sustainability”. In this talk, Dr. Mohd Khanif

Yusop highlighted the use of soil to provide food for man survival and a

sustainable environment. He discussed the current of arable land, pro-

Malaysian Society of Soil Science 50th Anniversary Celebration

M A L A Y S I A N S O C I E T Y O F

S O I L S C I E N C E ( M S S S )

Director General, Department of Agriculture, YBhg. Datuk Haji Mohd Nasir bin Warris

MSSS President, Dr. Rosazlin Abdullah

MSSS Newsletter www.msss.com.my

duction and population globally and nationally. He also emphasized the way forward for the enhance-ment of soil carry capacity. About 250 participants showed their supports by joining this program in Zoom. Some participants also leave their supportive messages and likes on MSSS Facebook.

On 2 April 2021, the program celebration began with the welcoming remarks by the MSSS Pres-ident, Dr. Rosazlin Abdullah. The program continued with the opening remarks by the Deputy Minis-ter, Agriculture and Food Industries II, YBhg. Dato’ Haji Che Abdullah bin Mat Nawi. In his speech,

YBhg. Dato’ Haji Che Abdullah bin Mat Nawi advised to protect the environment besides producing good quality agricultural products via good agricultural prac-tices. He acknowledged and appreciated the ef-forts needed to protect soil and other natural resources. He also offici-ated the MSSS 50th Anniversary Celebra-tion.

After that, the program continued with a forum by the Malaysian soil experts from MSSS Hon-orary member, Dr. Paramananthan Selliah and three MSSS Fellow members; Prof. Dr. Shamsuddin Jusop (Past President MSSS), Dr. Ghulam Mohammed (Past President MSSS), and Dr. Haji Zin Zawawi Zakaria (Past Vice President MSSS). This forum brought the topic “Past, Present, and Future on Soil Science in Malaysia” which highlighted food security, forest exchange, and climate change. In this forum, Prof. Dr. Shamsuddin focused on food security to increasing food production through land management practices. Meanwhile, Dr. Paramananthan shared how agriculture affects climate change. Next, Dr. Ghulam suggested diversifying the food sources for staple food and not solely depending on rice. He also discussed carbon sequestration caused by soil disturbance and emphasized keeping the ground vegetation to protect the soil. Last but not least, Dr. Haji Zin Zawawi focused on the decline of oil palm production caused by climate, labour shortage, poor soil conditions, and nutrients deficiency. He also suggested the soil scientists look into soil microorganisms and soil acidification which may con-tribute to the decline of national oil palm production. The sharing of information and opinions given by the panels were very informative and about 350 participants joined this forum. The forum ended after a question-and-answer session.

Deputy Minister, Agriculture and Food Industries II, YBhg. Dato’ Haji Che Abdullah bin Mat Nawi


By: Dr. Khairun Nisa Kamarudin (UiTM Perlis Branch)

Guest speaker, Dr. Mohd Khanif Yusop who is as well MSSS Fellow and Past President

Invited panellists in MSSS Forum entitle 'Past, Present, and Future of Soil Science in Malaysia' were Prof. Dr. Shamsuddin Jusop, Dr. Ghulam Mohammed Hashim, Dr. Haji Zin Zawawi Zakaria, and Dr. Paramananthan Selliah with Dr. Norliyana Zin Zawawi as a forum

moderator


By: Dr. Wan Asrina Wan Yahaya (UPMKB)

For the last 50 years, numerous programs have been hosted and/or co-hosted by the society with other government, NGO, and private agencies such as Malaysia Rubber Research Institute (RRIM), Depart-ment of Agriculture Malaysia, Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI), with the objectives to share knowledge and news among members in the area of soil science and man-

agement. Among ac-tivities organized/joined at the national level was the soil sci-ence conference, which is held annual-ly, workshops, public talks, soil familiariza-tion tours, ‘Soil Fun Run’, and exhibitions such as Agri-Malaysian Exhibition.

At the interna-tional level, a few MSSS members active-ly participated in in-ternational confer-ences such as the ‘World Congress of Soil Science’, the Sym-posium on Plant-Soil Interaction at Low pH (PSILPH), and others. Here are nostalgic pic-tures of activities and programs hosted/co-hosted by the society.

Photo’s cour-tesy of Dr. Wan Noordin Wan Daud.

Nostalgic Photos of MSSS, 1971-2021


In conjunction with the 50th anniversary celebration, the Malay-

sian Society of Soil Science (MSSS) launched its new anniversary logo

design. The logo was designed by Mr. Khairun Naim Mulana, who rep-resents the management committee and the society members in both

roles. He is currently employed at Behn Meyer (M) Sdn. Bhd. in the

position of Product Development/R&D Executive. After several revi-

sion and editing stages, the MSSS anniversary logo received official ap-

proval from the management committee and was launched on the 2nd

April 2021. The logo has been publicly displayed on the society's web-

site, Facebook page, and in letters throughout 2021. We intend to in-

vite all society members, national and global supporters to join us in

celebrating the Golden Jubilee Anniversary and participating in all

planned activities.

The selection and determination of the logo, as indicated by Mr. Khairun Naim, is based upon

society's objectives and achievements, which are contributed by members of the government and by pri-

vate agencies. Thus, the primary focus is on the agriculture sector from different perspectives in order to

improve our agricultural production as well as to respond to the government’s call to boost food securi-

ty. We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to Mr. Khairun Naim for his contribution and sup-

port. Once again, congratulations to all committee members for their commitment and wishes all MSSS

society members a Happy Golden Jubilee and 50th Anniversary of establishment. We look forward to

continuing to work together to encourage the growth of this society and its future success.

Hidden Meanings Of MSSS’s 50 Years Logo


Mr. Khairun Naim Mulana (Behn Meyer (M). Sdn. Bhd.)


Malaysian Society of

Soil Science with collaboration

of the Food and Agriculture

Organization of the United Na-

tions organized an Internation-

al Webinar titled Strategic Part-

nerships towards Sustainable

Soil Management. This event

was held to commemorate the

50 years of MSSS existence as

well as to highlight the World

Soil Day 2021 theme : Halt soil

salinization; Boost soil productivity. It was held online on the 23rd of March 2021 at 3.00 pm local

time inviting 2 reputable speakers. Dr. Maria Kon-

yushkova from FAO, a soil salinity expert with 20 years

experience in arid and salt affected regions of Russia,

Kazakhstan, Iran. Uzbekistan & China. She shared her

presentation on "The ongoing and prospective activity of

the Global Soil Partnership in Asia". The second speaker

was our very own MSSS Fellow, Dr. Wan Rasidah Kadir

from Forest Research Institute of Malaysia who gave re-

markable insights on ‘Coastal mangrove soils in Malay-

sia’. Dr. Wan Rasidah Kadir has 36 years of experience

in soil science and advocates soil sustainability and con-

servation of saline soils. The event was live in zoom and

FB at the given link https://www.facebook.com/

zamir.rasid/videos/10157986816508341. The event was

attended by 210 participants and were well received from

all backgrounds. We thank the supporters, speakers,

sponsors and the organizers of the webinar in highlight-

ing the importance of sustainable soil management.

50th MSSS Golden Jubilee International Webinar

By: Dr. Jeyanny Vijayanathan (FRIM)

Speakers and moderator of the webinar program

Poster of the event


During the MSSS 50th Anniversary Celebration, the organizer community organized the photo,

short essay, and poetry contests to increase public awareness on the importance of soil to humankind,

especially among the young generation. With the theme “Soil is Life” and “Our Soil, Our Future”, the

secretariat received a lot of participants from talented Malaysian citizens. The contests were started from

2nd to 20 March 2021 and the winners were announced on 2 April 2021. The top five best photos were

selected among 66 submitted photos, and the winners were Muhammad Solihin Bin Ramli (UTM),

Olivia Tera Anak Snoun (SK Assun), Noor Fairuz Diyana Binti Mohd Fuzi (National Cancer Institute),

Atillia Razak (UMT), and Wan Abdullah Bin Wan Yusoff (Soil Enthusiast). The photos were judged by

Dr. Wan Zaliha Wan Sembok (UMT), Dr. Rozita Osman (Malaysian Cocoa Board), Dr. Rudiyanto

(UMT) and Mr. Isharudin Md Isa (UPM).

MSSS 50th Anniversary Celebration Contests

Winners of the Photo Contest


Meanwhile, three win-

ners were selected from both

short essay and poetry con-

tests. For the short essay con-

test, Dr. Keeran Sundara Ra-

joo (UPM Bintulu Campus),

Jacqueline Binti Joseph

(UMS), and Nor Aliah Arbain

(UiTM Shah Alam) were se-

lected from 10 participants as

the winners. These short es-

says were evaluated by Assoc.

Prof. Dr. Christopher Teh

Boon Sung (UPM), Prof. Dr.

Che Fauziah Ishak (UPM),

and Dr. Samsuri Abd Wahid

(UPM). For the poetry con-

test, the winners were Dr. Ah-

mad Badri Muhammad (MAB

Environmental Consultants

Sdn. Bhd.), Frena Anak

Monti Gerai (Sarawak Tropi-

cal Peat Research Institute),

and Norziha Ishak (alumni

UM). They were selected from

43 participants and these po-

etries were judged by Dr. Nur

Qursyna Boll Kassim (UiTM),

Dr. Affendy Hassan (UMS),

and Dr. Syaharudin Zaibon

(UPM). All the winners won cash and e-certificates. Congratulations!

By: Dr. Khairun Nisa Kamarudin (UiTM Perlis Branch)

Winners of the Poetry Contest. Visit our Facebook Page for further reading


In commemoration

of the MSSS’s 50th anniver-

sary, the organizing commit-

tee successfully conducted a

national webinar entitled

"Biofertilizers recognition

and implementation in agri-

cultural crop production",

which was held on 16 March

2021 through an online plat-

form. MSSS is expected to

play a major role in soil sci-

ence development as well as

to develop and transfer scien-

tific knowledge to ensure the

quality and sustainability of soil and crops. An uncertain climate, combined with poor plant perfor-

mance, has recently exacerbated soil and plant production. Small growers, in particular, face unreliable

crop production in many parts of the agricultural sector, putting pressure on food security. These incon-

venient conditions could be solved by intensifying our attention to developing efficient, stable, and sus-

tainable crop production systems. However, the use of chemical fertilizer is increasing, particularly in

Malaysia, producing more greenhouse gases, polluting the environment, and squeezing already scarce

arable land resources. Aside from introducing the importance of soil, this webinar fosters networking

among participants, particularly growers and academics. This event drew 800 participants from a variety

of disciplines and professions. The webinar featured four speakers who discussed biofertilizer-related

topics:

National Webinar

No. Title Speaker

1. Biofertilizer benefits on soil and crop production Prof Madya Dr. Amir Hamzir, (USM)

2. Biofertilizer technology in MARDI Ms. Fadila, (MARDI)

3. Alleviation of biostress, enhance crop production Dr. Mohd Hoiril Azri Ponari, (IIUM)

4. Biofertilizer utilization among modern farmers Mr. Muhamad Nazri Lokman, (Edaran

NM Teguh Trading)

Winners of the Poetry Contest. Visit our Facebook Page for further reading

The event was live in zoom at the given

link https://us02web.zoom.us/

webinar/register/WN_ ifVjOIXnQN-

Clox5sOz4v4Q. We thank the webi-

nar's supporters, speakers, sponsors,

and organizers for bringing attention

to the importance of biofertilizers and

how they affect agriculture. MSSS com-

mittee has proposed organizing nation-

al webinars on selected topics to share

their most recent scientific achieve-

ments in the areas of sustainable soil

management and crop production.

The national webinar offered signifi-

cant opportunities for in-person infor-

mation for growers, researchers and other agricultural professionals. This improved understanding will

be valuable and can be used as a space to network and absorb information on current research projects.

Four main topics were selected for each national webinar session. Moreover, the first national webinar

on the use of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), commonly known as biofertilizer for better

crop growth performance was held on 16 March 2021. The upcoming event will be updated and will be

announced through the MSSS Facebook page and the main website at http://www.msss.com.my.



*TBA—To be announced

Proposed national webinar topics by Malaysian Soil Science Society (MSSS) in 2021

No. Titles Proposed dated

1. Biofertilizers recognition and implementation in crop production 16 March 2021

2. Diversify soil conservation strategies in highland farming TBA

3. Carbon sequestration effective pathway for climate mitigation TBA

4. Adaptation to climate change with gradient soil fertility level TBA

Poster of the event


Soil fertility is the ability of

the soil to sustain plant growth and

optimize the crop's yield. A fertile soil

will consist of all macronutrients and

micronutrients that are needed by the

plant to survive. Examples of macro-

nutrients are Nitrogen (N), Phospho-

rus (P), and Potassium (K), while mi-

cronutrients are Boron (B), Zink (Zn),

and iron (Fe). The parameters that

can be used as a benchmark for soil

fertility include soil texture, soil acidi-

ty (pH), organic matter (OM), carbon

content, nutrient content and cation

exchange capacity (CEC), which have

a strong positive relationship with nutrients stored and available in the soil (A. Malik, 2015).

Changes in land use can cause a decline in soil

fertility and total carbon and nitrogen stocks. Thus, the

objective of this study is to compare the soil fertility sta-

tus of different land use practices in Cameron High-

lands. Soil samples were collected in five different land

management areas, namely, forests, cultivation areas,

abandoned land, secondary forests and eroded land.

The information on the soil properties in such type of

management is important as a guide for further manage-

ment and practices on the soil. The samples were col-

lected at a depth of 0-15 cm (topsoil) and 15-30 cm

(subsurface soil) using a soil auger. Soil fertility can also

be determined by using the Soil Fertility Index (SFI)

and the Soil Evaluation Factor (SEF) formula. The re-

sults indicated that eroded land had the lowest SFI of

all management types, with the lowest SOM (1.73%)

and CEC (4.30 cmol/kg), while surprisingly abandoned

land had the highest fertility status, which was most like-

Fertility Status on Different Land Use

Soil sampling at Cameron Highlands

Best Thesis recipient, Siti Nur Mursidah Binti Azis for undergraduate program un-

der supervision by Dr. Syaharudin bin Zaibon.


Further studies, especially in aspects of biological properties are needed to evaluate soil conditions relat-

ed to the microbial and faunal activity on these sites. This study was funded by Jabatan Perhutanan Se-

menanjung Malaysia (JPSM) and part of “Impact of changes in forest land use on soil fertility status”.

By: Siti Nur Mursidah Azis (UPM), Dr. Syaharudin bin Zaibon (UPM).

The agricultural land with corn in Hutan Simpan Batu Gang-gan

The secondary forest shown in red while abandoned land shown in yellow

The forest area shown in oval shape Eroded soil in Hutan Simpan Terla B


Soil is a basic structure that serves as an earth pond

for fish culture. The type of soil has become a major

concern in the pond’s construction. In fish culture,

water sources and the type of soil are the main issues

that need to take into consideration. Despite the fact

that water is the primary medium for fish culture,

water quality has an impact on soils during water

management.

The worst water quality is influenced by fish

growing during culture in the pond. The primary wa-

ter quality parameters are dissolved oxygen (DO),

pH, ammonia, and nitrite, but other heavy metals

elements such as lead (Pb), chromium (Cr), arsenic

(As), zinc (Zn), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), mercury

(Hg), and nickel (Ni) must also be investigated. The

presence of these elements will be a major issue due

to toxicity and the impact on humans when consum-

ing fish.

Clay soil is the most appropriate type of soil

used for fish pond construction. This is due to its

ability to retain water and prevent water losses. Un-

suitable soils, such as peat and sandy soils, are com-

pletely unsuitable for earth fish pond selection due to

their high pH and inability to hold water. The earth

pond should contain more than 60 % of clay soil.

Also, the earth pond should be situated near natural

resources such as rivers, hill waters and other water

sources not contaminated by agricultural and indus-

trial waste. The use of polluted water sources may

have a negative impact on fish culture as well as the

water quality of the pond. These pollutants, which

include fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, and chemi-

cal toxic waste, are typically discharged by plantations

Earth Pond Fish Culture

The Tilapia sp. juvenile during 4 months cultured period

Conditioning of Tilapia sp. fry before releasing to the pond


and industrial areas. In fish culture, the ideal water pH range for fish growth is within 6.5 to 8.5. How-

ever, the soil parent material and soil pH have the potential to alter water pH, which correlates to and

consequently affects the survival rate and growth performance of the fish during the culture period.

Thus, soil pH of the selected pond could be improved through liming application in order to obtain the

suitable pH as recommended. Conversely, application of organic matter into soil may reduce the soil

pH.

By: Dr. Mohamad Faizul Mat Isa (UPMKB)

Pond Fertilized by using organic matter during half water fill up

Liming progress due to acidic soil below pH 6.5

Pond fish was blooming with blue green alga after a week Installation of paddle wheel to increase DO (dissolved oxygen) in the water before fish releasing


We are pleased to announce the MSSS Post-Graduate Thesis Award (Ph.D. and Master with research)

2020. The award is given to the PhD or Master with re-

search thesis that has shown exceptional contribution to

the field of soil science in the period from 01/01/2020

to 31/12/2020. The award consists of a monetary prize

to support career development and certificate of achieve-

ment.

Postgraduate Thesis Award: An Outstanding Postgradu-

ate Thesis Award of RM 1, 000 together with the certifi-

cate of Award will be made to recognize the work of a

postgraduate’s student who has graduated or anticipates

graduating during the current academic year (Jan 2020-

December 2020).

Deadlines:

30 September , 2021

Application/Nomination materials for both awards must include the following: 1. In a single PDF:

a. Cover page: Indicate student's name, mentor/advisor's name, degree program name, and title

of thesis.

b. Student's Curriculum Vitae (including a list of all publications, with those related to thesis/

dissertation work marked with an *).

c. Student's statement (3 pages or less). The student should concisely describe how their studies

provide major new insights and describe their role, including a description of the student's

contribution to: development of the concept or hypothesis, experimental design, develop-

ment of new method's or materials, collection and interpretation of data, and preparation of

the document.

MSSS Thesis Award


2. Letters of recommendation from at least two faculty members. The letters should evaluate the im-

portance of the studies within a broadly defined field, the contributions of the student, and should

indicate the relationship of referee to student (i.e., advisor, committee member, and/or collabora-

tor). Publications, if any, related to the thesis/dissertation work should be noted.

3. Complete PDF copy of the thesis, along with evi-

dence of the thesis being passed.

All thesis will be evaluated by a Review Committee

appointed by the MSSS Management Committee, us-

ing the following four criteria:

a. Selection of the award winning thesis must

fulfil the set criteria such as thesis quality in

terms of significance of contribution, re-

search, interpretation, writing and innova-

tion of product/process/approach/insight.

b. The quality of the scientific research and

writing within the context of the field.

c. The quality and capability of the candidate based on their CV and the letter of recommen-

dation.

d. Part of the research work of the thesis has been published in high impact journal/refereed

journal, or won an award in a national or international level.

If the Award Review Committee is unable to identify a thesis of sufficient quality amongst the applica-

tions submitted, the award will not be offered.

If the Award Review Committee identifies a number of high quality applications in addition to the

awardee, they may offer a “Highly Commended” certificate.

MSSS may publicize successful candidates.

Any queries should be addressed to: [email protected]

By: Dr. Mohd Shafar Jefri Mokhatar (UPM)

mailto:[email protected]


Learning soil science as a fundamental subject for all agriculture students sometimes one of the biggest challenges for the lecturer and the students. Its often becomes a tedious work to influence and gain the students attention towards the course. However, this subject can be more interesting when pro-vided with a different mechanism to make this course more enjoyable. A series of exposing the students to basic soil science for research is conducted in Napier Field, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Bintulu Sara-wak Campus (UPMKB) on January 2019. It involved seven groups consisting of 70 students from the Diploma in Agriculture Semester 3 (DPT). They are exposed to the use of soil auger as one of the critical tools in soil sampling towards analysing soil fertility and other soil properties. Giving them a chance to play around on different soil depths with the main objective to explain differences between surface and subsurface soil sampling. Besides, offering an opportunity to decide and learn about sampling methodol-ogy to capture the most reliable sampling points to represent the area. While augering the soil samples

Playing with the Dirt

Observing soil colour using the Munsell Chart

in two different depths (surface and subsurface), the students also learn to use Munsell Chart to deter-mine soil colour. They learn different colours representing different soil characteristics, such as soil sam-pling near the drain yielding a greyish soil represents insufficient oxygen exchange that contributed to

the colour changes. When determining differ-ence soil colour on surface and subsurface, they had concluded the colour becomes lighter in deeper depths compared to surface soil. Interestingly, all the students became more curious when looking at the demonstra-tion of using the soil auger. They become excit-ing when trying to insert the auger clockwise and to pull the auger with soil by turning the auger counter-clockwise. Playing with an auger seems to attract their attention when all the group members start to measure the auger height to make sure the sampling is at the correct depth. At the end of this activity, the students becomes more familiar with using an auger and learning all the skills on identifying soil colour. As in the morning, they only learnt theoretically, which

made them more confused. Conducting a simple field activity may enhance their knowledge and make them more alert with the use of equipment. At the end of this activity, about 42 soil samples (21 surface and 21 subsurface) were gathered and underwent the drying process before soil analysis.

By: Izzah Abd Hamid and Dr. Wan Asrina Wan Yahaya (UPMKB)


Removing a soil sample from the auger Obtaining a surface soil sample from the auger

Group photo after sampling


According to the Guidelines on Handling and Management of Clinical Wastes in Malaysia

(DOE, 2009), pathological waste has been defined as hazardous clinical waste and its current disposal

practices in Malaysia is in accordance with the Environmental Quality Act 1974 legislation. Formalin is

commonly used to preserve pathological specimens, and incineration is commonly used to dispose of

this formalin-fixed pathological waste. However, the practice is costly, can release very toxic substances

and its role in disposing of human waste in a respectful manner is still questionable among the local

community. Deep burial was considered as a viable alternative because it is a low-cost and Shari'ah-

compliant method of disposing of human bodies and pathological waste. Patients and families at Hospi-

tal Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) have been increasingly requesting deep burial procedures in recent

years.

Development of An Environmental Friendly Method for Disposing Formalin-Fixed Specimens

Disposal of formalin-fixed specimens for the first time using burial method


The measurement for the deep open-

ing in the ground is 7 feet (length) x 3 feet

(width) x 7 feet (depth), which is the specifica-

tion of the dimension that has been hypothe-

sized to prevent unpleasant odors that may

encourage animals to access the burial site.

Unfortunately, because formalin is a toxic

substance, there has been some concern

about the deep burial effect of formalin-fixed

soil, water, animal and plant quality pre- and

post-burial waste on the environment, specifi-

cally soil, groundwater, soil, animals, and

plants. Therefore, Hospital (USM) Kubang

Kerian together with Universiti Malaysia Ke-

lantan (UMK) aim to investigate the effects of

deep burial of formalin-fixed pathological

waste on underground soil, water, animal and

plant quality pre- and post-burial. We hope to

establish an understanding on the safety effect

of the deep burial procedure in order to come

up with a better waste management practice for forma-

lin-treated pathological waste for hospitals in Malaysia.

The burial method will hopefully be an alternative

method to an expensive and toxic incineration meth-

od that was used in Malaysia a long time ago.

By: Dr. Musfiroh Jani (UMK) Soil pH and moisture determination on the burial site

Soil sample collection from an area of burial site


Black pepper (Piper nigrum L.) can be cultivated on a wide range of

soils in Malaysia. However, deep peat, bleached sand, and podzols

are not suitable for planting pepper. Apart from that, soils which

have sandy loam texture and are low in chemical fertility as well

as poor nutrient holding capacity are also not suitable. Because of

excess drainage, pepper vines grown on these soil types could be

under water stress during the dry months. Clay loam soils high in

organic matter with a good drainage system and pH of 5 to 5.5

are favoured. In Sarawak, pepper is widely cultivated on soils of

the Red Yellow Podzolic Group (yellow to red loamy sands to

clay) and a lesser extent on Grey-white Podzolic, lateritic, and allu-

vial soils. A study by the research arm of the Sarawak Department

of Agriculture on various soil types have shown that yields are

high on Tarat Series of the Red Yellow Podzolic Group. These soils are known to have excellent charac-

teristics and are porous, friable, and of clay-to-clay loam in texture. Recorded results on the pepper yield

were 15 to 20 tonnes/ha/year of fresh berries. However, pepper grown on Semongok Series of the same

soil group recorded yields less than 12 tonnes/ha/year and had shorter economic life. These soils have

very fine clay texture with massive and compact subsoil, resulting in imperfect drainage and retardation

of root development. Another soil characteristic which has a significant effect on the growth and yield

performance of pepper is soil moisture. Soil moisture requirement varies depending on soil types. A

good drainage system is required when the soil moisture content is

above its field capacity. This is to drain out excess water to avoid soil-

borne diseases that can harm the roots. Irrigation is needed only

when the area experienced longer periods of dry season. Unlike in

Sarawak which received abundant rain all year around, some areas in

Sabah and northern parts of Peninsular Malaysia will have to estab-

lish an irrigation system in order to provide sufficient water for the

pepper vines. Hot humid conditions are good for growth but contin-

uing humidity over long periods of time favours the incidence of fun-

gal diseases, such as Phytophthora foot rot.

Soil Conditions for Black Pepper in Malaysia

A typical drainage system in pepper farms

A sprinkler irrigation system in a pepper farm

By: Kevin Muyang Tawie Sulok (MPB)


JOURNALS (RM 10/each)

1. Malaysian Journal of Soil Science (Volume 1—

12)

2. Malaysian Journal of Soil Science (Volume

15—16, 18)

BOOKS (RM 10/each)

1. Bibliography of Malaysian Soils

2. Recent Developments in Land Evaluation

3. Sustainable Land Management

4. Secondary & Micronutrients in Malaysian

Agriculture

5. Developments in Soil Research In Malaysia

6. Soil Management for Food and Fruit Crop

Production

PROCEEDINGS (RM 10/each)

1. Soil Science Conference of Malaysia year ( ‘91. ‘93’, ‘94, ‘95,

‘97, ‘98, ‘99)

2. Soil Science Conference of Malaysia year ( ‘02. ‘03’, ‘04, ‘06)

3. International Conference on Fertilizer Usage in the Tropics

1992

4. Workshop on Soil Science in Malaysia-Towards the year

2020

5. Proceedings of the International Conference on Fertilizer

Usage in the Tropics (FERTROP) 1992

MSSS Publications for Sale!

The International Union of Soil Sciences (IUSS) W H Y J O I N T H E I U S S ? The International Union of Soil Sciences (IUSS) is the global union of soil scientists. The objectives of the IUSS are to foster all branches of the soil sciences and their applications, and to give support to soil scien-tists in the pursuit of their activities. In addition, the IUSS aims to put soils and soil science on the global agenda. Annual subscriptions from National Soil Science Societies, either directly or indirectly via National Academies, are essential for maintaining a strong presence of the IUSS for effective promotion of soil science and its wide range of applications to fellow professionals, policy and decision makers, and the general public. This is critical to keep our discipline strong and viable and to enhance its visibility and impact in all parts of the world. The IUSS is the umbrella organisation for six important regional societies, one in Asia (the “East and South East Asian Confederation of Soil Science Societies”), three in Africa (the “African Soil Science Society”, the “East African Soil Science Society”, and the “West and Central African Soil Science Society”), one in Latin America (the “Latin American Society of Soil Science Societies”), and one in Europe (the “European Confed-eration of Soil Science Societies”). All these regional organisations act under the umbrella of IUSS and have specific tasks for promoting soil science. Source https://www.iuss.org/about-the-iuss/why-join-the-iuss/

https://www.iuss.org/about-the-iuss/why-join-the-iuss/


The Malaysian Journal of Soil Science (MJSS) is a scientific journal published by the Malay-sian Society of Soil Science. It contains re-search papers in English on matters related to soil and soil-plant interactions. The journal welcomes original research works not previ-ously or simultaneously published in any oth-er scientific or technical journal from MSSS members as well as other scientists in Malay-sia and abroad. The aim of the journal is to promote the development of soil science in Malaysia, other tropi-cal and subtropical regions. MJSS is a peer-reviewed, fully open access journal, is now indexed by Scopus and published annually. Instruction for authors and other details are available on our web-site http://www.msss.com.my/journals/instruct.php

MJSS - CALL FOR PAPERS

Contact us

The IUSS song

It is our life! We call it soil

It is the stuff, in which we toil

From soil we’ve sprung, to soil we’ll go

Protect the soil of this earth so we can grow

Malaysian Society of Soil Science, Department of Land Management, Faculty of Agriculture, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, MALAYSIA Website: http:/www.msss.com.my/ E mail: [email protected]

CONTRIBUTE TO OUR NEWSLETTER!

We are a big group of almost 300+ soil enthusiasts and we like to hear from

you! We are looking for article contributions on soil related issues, mainly

GENERAL ARTICLES: If you have a story/report about an activity related to

soil, such as soil training/workshop/conference/meetings;

YOUNG SCIENTISTS: If you are currently a young soil scientist (below 40

years of age) working on a research project related to soil dynamics, you may

send in your research article about 500 to 600 words which states on the intro,

justification, brief methods, results and conclusion. Please include a digital

copy of your research image.

THE EASTERN CONNECTION: Dedicated for any soil research endeavors

and information from Sabah and Sarawak.

ANNOUNCEMENTS: Of trainings or educational opportunities, forthcoming

meetings, conferences or other international announcement regarding soil,

agriculture, forestry, etc.

BOOK/PAPER REVIEW: If you have come across a recently published article

you think may be of interest to other MSSS members, please alert the Newslet-

ter Editor and we will highlight it for our readers.

ADVERTISMENTS: Submit your advertisement for RM 40 for half page and

RM 80 for full page in our newsletter. Gain more visibility with your services

and products! Submission information: For text send a word document with

Arial font (11) to [email protected] or [email protected] and for pho-

tos .jpg is preferred.

1089 Dr. Musfiroh Jani

1090 Mizan Fatihah Binti Mohamad

1091 Siti Rabi'ah Binti Hassan

1092 Andrew Iling

1093 Calvin Wilfred

1094 Dr. Dahlia Shahbuddin

1095 Gs. Ts. Wan Mohd Rusydan Bin Wan Ibrahim

http://www.iuss.org/index.php?article_id=36

http://www.msss.com.my/



MALAYSIAN SOCIETY OF SOIL SCIENCE(MSSS)

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